WWE Network

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–The Brawl to End It All!

The SmarK Rant for The Brawl to End It All – 07.23.84

OH BABY. We’ve been waiting a long time for these shows to drop on the Network! These are the full MSG shows, which were then edited down for the MTV special later on.

First up, a strange bit of history, as I was always told that we got the first ever women’s main event when Charlotte and Sasha did it. And yet, unless I’m dreaming, this show is headlined by a women’s title mach!

Taped from Madison Square Garden

Your hosts are Gene Okerlund & Gorilla Monsoon

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–The Brawl to End It All!

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–08.29.19

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – 08.29.19

This is quite the eclectic mix this week, with Adrian Street matches and international title defenses as the theme(s). Oh, wait, Street is from WALES, now I get the tie-in. Duh.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–08.29.19

TakeOver: Toronto

TakeOver: Toronto
Date: August 10, 2019
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Beth Phoenix, Mauro Ranallo

We’re going north for this one with the second Takeover from Toronto. The second part is rather appropriate as the main event is a rematch (of a rematch) with NXT Champion Adam Cole defending against former champion Johnny Gargano in their second 2/3 falls match. A lot of the show centers around Cole’s Undisputed Era so there is certainly a theme. Let’s get to it.

Read moreTakeOver: Toronto

The SmarK Rant for WWF Sunday Night Slam 94–08.21.94

The SmarK Rant for WWF Sunday Night Slam 1994 – 08.21.94

This was a backdoor addition to the Network as a Hidden Gem that is basically impossible to find at this point unless you literally know it’s there and search for it.

https://watch.wwe.com/program/Sunday-Night-Slam-August-1994-103116

Anyway, this was the Summerslam 94 leadup show, centered around Leslie Nielsen searching for the Undertaker. So you know it’s quality.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWF Sunday Night Slam 94–08.21.94

Smackville

Smackville
Date: July 27, 2019
Location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Tom Phillips, David Otunga

This is another special event with WWE presenting a show for the sake of having some competition. The schedule says that this is going to be an hour long show but an overrun would not surprise me. There are three matches on the card and an Elias performance for a bonus, meaning they’re going to be fairly packed. Let’s get to it.

Read moreSmackville

The SmarK Rant for Pro Wrestling USA–Meadowlands Mayhem–04.19.85

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – Pro Wrestling USA presents Meadowlands Mayhem!

Taped from East Rutherford, NJ (04.19.85), drawing about 10,000.

Your hosts are Killer Ken Resnick and Doug McLeod.

Tonight’s main event is a UGANDAN DEATH MATCH. That’s a hell of a hook. I’ve got no idea what’s on this show, but it’s another unholy union of Jim Crockett and Verne Gagne talent so let’s just check it out and see what we get.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for Pro Wrestling USA–Meadowlands Mayhem–04.19.85

No Way Out 2005

No Way Out 2005
Date: February 20, 2005
Location: Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 9,500
Commentators: Michael Cole, Tazz

This is a different kind of show as there is little doubt about where things are going for Wrestlemania but they’re trying to keep up the pretense of some surprises that could still come. That includes a barbed wire steel cage match with JBL defending the World Title against Big Show and a #1 contenders match between John Cena and Kurt Angle. Let’s get to it.

Read moreNo Way Out 2005

205 Live #138 – 16/07/2019

Hello You!

Back again with some more 205 Live. This week we actually get a rematch of the match that got me interested in watching the show again in the form of Jack Gallagher Vs Chad Gable. The last time these two took to the ring it was an absolute corker, so hopefully we get just as good a match this time out.

Also, last week Mike Kanellis promised doom for the show due to his personal life going to the dogs, so there’s a good chance we’ll see some chicanery from him this week as well.

So without further ado, let’s take to the skies for another week of 205 action!

Read more205 Live #138 – 16/07/2019

Evolve 131 (Tenth Anniversary Special)

Evolve 10th Anniversary
Date: July 13, 2019
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentator: Lenny Leonard

This one is interesting for a lot of reasons, starting with the fact that it is WWE’s first official head to head competition against AEW, which is running Fight For The Fallen at the same time. Evolve is an indy company that has become an unofficial feeding system for WWE, which has even sent some talent there for Evolve shows. This has been hyped up harder than most Takeovers so it could be interesting. Let’s get to it.

Read moreEvolve 131 (Tenth Anniversary Special)

The SmarK Rant for Wrestling Potpourri–06.30.19

The SmarK Rant for Wrestling Potpourri – 06.30.19

I don’t really have time to watch all the shows from this weekend and other stuff that people have been bugging me about, but here’s a selection of some of the bigger match requests and such that have dropped in my inbox recently. To be honest, the first attempt at this didn’t do great, but I’m willing to keep trying because people seem to want this format. Pitter patter, let’s get at ‘er!

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for Wrestling Potpourri–06.30.19